American Psychological Association (APA) has issued a resolution that denounces violence in video games. The resolution comes after an analysis of 20 years of game research which the organization says shows that the effects of violent games can be both immediate and long-lasting.
»Showing violent acts without consequences teach youth that violence is an effective means of resolving conflict,« says psychologist Elizabeth Carll to Washington Post.
In Denmark computer game researcher at Syddansk University, Bo Kampmann, says that computer games in his opinion are not more violent than other media forms and thus not to blame for societal violence. 
»Ultimately it is up to parents to check what their kids are doing game wise just like parents normally would meter the television and reading habits of their offspring,« says the scientist to the newspaper Berlingske Tidende.
Moreover Bo Kampmann doesn't think children have a problem differentiating between games and reality. Call me crazy but hasn't he got a point there? Scientific research or not - - if children were to become more violent from playing violent games why haven't we already put out a ban on all toy guns and other military related toys.
I do not myself play violent games. I simply don't like them. But I also don't like it when an otherwise relevant discussion is hijacked by psychologists with arguments that sound like an echo from the fifties warning kids to stay away from rock and roll.
Technorati: Games|Psychology
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